Lacrosse training aid

ABSTRACT

A lacrosse training aid has a first body portion having a first end and a second end, a second body portion having a first end and a second end, and a locking mechanism. The first body portion second end is operatively coupled to the second body portion first end. Furthermore, the first body portion first end is releasably coupled to the second body portion second end by the locking mechanism. The first body portion first end and second body portion second end are movable between a first position in which the locking mechanism secures the first body portion first end to the second body portion second end, and a second position in which the first body portion first end is moveable with respect to the second body portion second end.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62/532,114, filed Jul. 13, 2017, entitled “Lacrosse Training Aid”, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of training aids and conditioning devices exist for sports that employ a weight that is connected to sports equipment. For example, weighted rings exist that are slid onto the end of a bat and that wedge at the thicker end of the bat. Lacrosse sticks, unlike bats, do not contain a first end with a smaller diameter than a second end. Thus, prior art training aids couple to the head portion of the lacrosse stick and are generally bulky. As such, prior art training aids inhibit the user's ability to play with the stick while the training aid is attached to the lacrosse stick. Moreover, prior art training aids are typically not secure for use in real-time play. Various embodiments of the present lacrosse stick training aid recognize and address the foregoing considerations, and others, of prior art devices.

SUMMARY

In embodiments, a lacrosse training aid has a first body portion having a first end and a second end, a second body portion having a first end and a second end, and a locking mechanism. The first body portion second end is operatively coupled to the second body portion first end. Furthermore, the first body portion first end is releasably coupled to the second body portion second end by the locking mechanism. The first body portion first end and second body portion second end are movable between a first position in which the locking mechanism secures the first body portion first end to the second body portion second end, and a second position in which the first body portion first end is moveable with respect to the second body portion second end.

In various embodiments, the locking mechanism is moveable between (1) a first unlocked position in which the buckle second end is uncoupled from the second body portion second end, and the first body portion first end is spaced apart from the second body portion second end, and (2) a second locked position in which the buckle second is coupled to the second body portion second end, and the first body portion first end is positioned adjacent the second body portion second end. In other embodiments, when a lacrosse stick is positioned intermediate the first body portion and the second body portion and the locking mechanism is in the second locked position, the first and second body portions are frictionally coupled to the lacrosse stick.

In various embodiments, the first body portion and the second body portion together weigh between about one-half and five pounds. In some embodiments, the first and second body portions are formed from at least one of a metal, an alloy, rubber or a polymer. In various embodiments, a first gripping surface is coupled to the first inner circumferential surface, and a second gripping surface is coupled to the second inner circumferential surface. In some embodiments, the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface is formed from a material that is softer than the material used to form the first and second body portions. In various embodiments, the locking mechanism further comprises a catch that is formed proximate the second body portion second end.

In another embodiment, lacrosse training aid has (1) a first body portion having a first end, a second end, and an arcuate first inner circumferential surface that extends between the first and second ends of the first body portion, (2) a second body portion having, a first end, a second end, and an arcuate second inner circumferential surface that extends between the first and second ends of the second body portion, and (3) a locking mechanism comprising a buckle having a first end and a second end. In various embodiments, the buckle first end is pivotally coupled to the first body portion first end. In some embodiments, the buckle second end is releasably coupled to the second body portion second end. In some embodiments, the first body portion second end is operatively coupled to the second body portion first end. In various embodiments, the first inner circumferential surface is spaced apart from the second inner circumferential surface to allow a lacrosse stick to be placed therebetween.

In yet another embodiment, a lacrosse training aid comprises (1) a first body portion comprising a first end and a second end, (2) a second body portion comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first body portion second end is movably coupled to the second body first end, and (3) a locking means for releasably coupling the first body portion first end to the second body portion second end. In various embodiments, the locking means is moveable between an open position where the first body portion first end can be moved apart from the second body portion second end, and a closed position where the first body portion first end is coupled to the second body portion second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be described below. In the course of the description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lacrosse training aid according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a lacrosse training aid according to another particular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the lacrosse training aid shown in FIG. 1 partially attached to a lacrosse stick.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the lacrosse training aid shown in FIG. 3, fully attached to the lacrosse stick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, embodiments of a lacrosse training aid 10 and 10A are shown having a first body portion 12 and a second body portion 14. The first body portion 12 has a first end 16 and a second end 18. The second body portion 14 also has a first end 20 and a second end 22. The first body portion second end 18 is operatively coupled to the second body portion first end 20. In various embodiments, the first body portion second end 18 is pivotally coupled to the second body portion first end 20 by a hinge mechanism 24 and 24A.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hinge mechanism 24 is formed from a first plurality of recesses 26 formed in the first body portion second end 18 and a second plurality of finger portions 28 formed on the second body portion first end 20. The finger portions 28 are pivotally coupled in the recesses 26 by a rod 30 that extends from a first side wall 32 of the first body portion 16 to a second side wall 34 of the first body portion 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hinge mechanism 24A is formed from a first recess 26A formed in the first body portion second end 18 and a second finger portion 28A formed on the second body portion first end 20. The finger portion 28A is pivotally coupled in the recess 26A by a rod (not shown) that extends from a first side wall 32A of the first body portion 16 to a second side wall 34A of the first body portion 16. The pivotal coupling allows the first body portion first end 16 to move with respect to the second body portion second end 22, as discussed in greater detail below.

It should be understood that the first body portion second end 18 and the second body portion first end 20 may be pivotally coupled to one another in any of a variety of ways. For example, the first body portion second end 18 and the second body portion first end 20 may be integrally formed together such that the area where they are connected forms a living hinge where the material is flexible and allows the first body portion 12 to pivot with respect to the second body portion 14. In other embodiments, the first body portion second end 18 may include a first catch that is releasably coupled to a second catch formed on the second body portion first end 20.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first body portion first end 16 and the second body portion second end 22 are operatively coupled to one another by a locking mechanism 36. In various embodiments, the locking mechanism 36 comprises a binding clip 38 that has a first end 40 that defines a catch 42 and a second end 44. The binding clip 38 is pivotally coupled proximate to the first body portion first end 16 by a bracket 46. In this way, a user can hook the catch 42 to the second body portion second end 22 and press the binding clip second end 44 to activate the locking mechanism. When this occurs, the locking mechanism causes the first body portion first end 16 to be drawn toward the second body portion second end 22. Said another way, because the first body portion second end 18 is pivotally coupled to the second body portion first end 20, when the binding clip first end catch 42 is coupled to the second body portion second end 22 and the binding clip 38 is rotated by depressing the second end 44 of the clip 38, the first body portion first end 16 is moved toward the second body portion second end 22 until the binding clip 38 locks into place. At this point the lacrosse training aid 10 is in a closed position. In other embodiments, the locking mechanism may be an adjustable buckle or any other suitable locking mechanism for releasably attaching the first body portion first end to the second body portion second end.

In various embodiments, the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14 may be formed from any suitable material. For example, in some embodiments, the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14 may be formed from a polymer, a rubber, a metal, an alloy, a ceramic, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14 may be formed from a metal coated with a rubber material. In other embodiments, the first and second body portions may be formed from rubber. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the material chosen to form the first and second body portions may vary depending on the desired weight of the lacrosse training aid 10 and 10A to be added to the lacrosse stick. For example, the lacrosse training aid may add between about 0.5 pounds to 10.0 pounds of weight to the lacrosse stick. In embodiments, the lacrosse training aid may add between about 1.0 pounds of weight to 5.0 pounds of weight to the lacrosse stick. In some embodiments, the lacrosse training aid 10 may add between about 1.0 pound of weight to the lacrosse stick.

In various embodiments, the lacrosse training aid 10 may be weighted based on the weight of the first body portion and the second body portion (e.g., each of the first and second body portions may be equally weighted). In other embodiments, the first and second body portions may be configured to releasably receive weights (e.g., slugs, plates, etc.) that allow the user to adjust the weight of the lacrosse training aid by changing the weight configuration attached to one or both of the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14.

For example, in an embodiment where the lacrosse training aid adds an additional pound of weight to the lacrosse stick, the first and second body portions may be formed of a dense rubber since the overall size of the first and second body portions would not be so large as to interfere with the operation of the lacrosse stick. In other embodiments where the user desires a small, low profile lacrosse training aid, the first and second body portions 12 and 14 may be formed from a metal/alloy so as to keep the size of the overall lacrosse training aid to a minimum, while allowing for the desired weight. In still other embodiments, the first and second body portions 12 and 14 may be formed from a metal and coated with a polymer or rubber material to increase the frictional forces between the lacrosse training aid and the lacrosse stick. In this way, a lacrosse stick utilizing the lacrosse training aid can be used in live practice without hindering the operation of the lacrosse stick and without the training aid moving along the length of the stick. In other embodiments, the first and second body portions 12 and 14 may be formed from a metal and an inner sleeve (not shown) may be positioned intermediate the lacrosse stick and the first and second body portions to provide a frictional fit between the training aid 10 and the lacrosse stick.

In various embodiments, the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14 may be formed in an arcuate shape so that the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14 together substantially form a torus or doughnut shape lacrosse training aid. In other embodiments, the first body portion 12 and the second body portion 14 are C-shaped so that when the two body portions 12 and 14 are coupled as described above they form a collar ring. It should be understood that the first and second body portions may be formed in any shape. However, to provide symmetry and a balanced experience, in embodiments the first and second body portions are arcuate in shape.

In various embodiments, an opening 48 defined by the first and second body portions 12 and 14 is sized in diameter to fit the lacrosse stick therein. In some embodiments, a diameter 49 of the opening 48 is substantially the same as a diameter of a standard lacrosse stick. In other embodiments, the diameter 49 of the opening 48 is slightly smaller than the diameter of a standard lacrosse stick. In still other embodiments, an inner ring 51 (FIG. 3A) may be provided that is inserted into the opening 48 to allow a user to adjust the opening 48 to fit multiple sized lacrosse sticks. That is, the lacrosse training aid may include one or more inserts 51 that allow the user to adjust the diameter of the opening 48 so that the lacrosse training aid can fit sticks with different diameters. In other embodiments, the first and second body portions 12 and 14 and locking mechanism 36 may be configured to fit tightly on a wide range of stick diameters. That is, the locking mechanism 36 may be moveable into a locked position even when the first body portion first end 16 and the second body portion second end 22 are not abutting one another. Said another way, when the locking mechanism 36 is in the closed position, the first body portion first end 16 and the second body portion second end 22 may be spaced apart from one another depending on the diameter of the lacrosse stick to which the lacrosse training aid is attached.

Exemplary Use

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a lacrosse stick 50 has three main parts—the shaft 52, the head 54 and the pocket 56. The shaft is the actual stick part of the lacrosse stick and may be formed from a one or more materials including, but not limited to, aluminum, titanium, scandium, alloy, wood, etc. The head 54 is the part of the stick that holds the pocket 56. Some heads 54 are flexible and some are stiff. The pocket 56 is the mesh inside of the head 54. The head 54 is comprised of a neck portion 58, a ball stop portion 60, and a pair of side walls 62 that help retain the mesh pocket 56 attached thereto.

In various embodiments, the lacrosse training aid 10 is mounted on the shaft 52 proximate the neck portion 58. Although the shaft diameter may vary from one lacrosse stick to another, present embodiments of the lacrosse training aid 10 can accommodate these changes since the first body portion 12 pivots with respect to the second body portion and the locking mechanism allows the weight to be clamped onto the shaft. Furthermore, the lacrosse training aid 10 does not interfere with the operation of the lacrosse stick (i.e., normal passing and shooting) so the user can use the lacrosse training aid 10 as a training aid during practice. Furthermore, by adjusting the position of the lacrosse training aid 10 along the length of the shaft 52, the user can change the force exerted on the shaft since the closer the weight is to the neck portion 58, the greater the force that is felt (e.g., a larger moment arm is applied on the shaft) on the end of the shaft when the shaft is moved by the user. Thus, it should be understood by those of skill in the art that the lacrosse training aid may be clamped onto the shaft 52 at any point between the shaft end 51 and the neck portion 58. Additionally, because of the clamping action applied by the locking mechanism 36, the first and second body portions 12 and 14 will not slide along the length of the shaft 52 when the stick is swung by the user. That is, the clamping action between the first and second body portions creates a frictional fit between the lacrosse training aid 10 and the lacrosse stick 50.

Alternative Embodiments

In alternative embodiments, other types of locking mechanisms may be used to draw the first body portion first end 16 toward the second body portion second end 22 to cause the first and second body portions to clamp onto the shaft of the lacrosse stick. Suck locking mechanisms include buckles, screws, threaded connections (e.g., a threaded bolt and a threaded hole), etc.

CONCLUSION

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, as will be understood by one skilled in the relevant field in light of this disclosure, the invention may take form in a variety of different mechanical and operational configurations. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and that the modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended exemplary concepts. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A lacrosse training aid comprising: a. a first body portion having: i. a first end; ii. a second end; iii. an arcuate first inner circumferential surface that extends between the first and second ends of the first body portion; and iv. the material comprising a substantial volume of the first body portion and a substantial weight of the second body portion; b. a second body portion having: i. a first end; ii. a second end; iii. an arcuate second inner circumferential surface that extends between the first and second ends of the second body portion; and iv. the material comprising a substantial volume of the second body portion and a substantial weight of the second body portion; c. a locking mechanism comprising a buckle having a first end and a second end; wherein the buckle first end is pivotally coupled to the first body portion first end; the buckle second end is releasably coupled to the second body portion second end; the first body portion second end is operatively coupled to the second body portion first end; the first inner circumferential surface is spaced apart from the second inner circumferential surface to allow a lacrosse stick to be placed therebetween.
 2. The lacrosse training aid of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is moveable between: a. a first unlocked position in which: i. the buckle second end is uncoupled from the second body portion second end; and ii. the first body portion first end is spaced apart from the second body portion second end; and b. a second locked position in which: i. the buckle second is coupled to the second body portion second end; and ii. the first body portion first end is positioned adjacent the second body portion second end.
 3. The lacrosse training aid of claim 1, wherein when a lacrosse stick is positioned intermediate the first body portion and the second body portion and the locking mechanism is in the second locked position, the first and second body portions are frictionally coupled to the lacrosse stick.
 4. The lacrosse training aid of claim 1, wherein the first body portion and the second body portion together weigh between about one and five pounds.
 5. The lacrosse training aid of claim 4, wherein the material comprises at least one of a metal, an alloy, rubber or a polymer.
 6. The lacrosse training aid of claim 1, further comprising: a. a first gripping surface that is coupled to the first inner circumferential surface; and b. a second gripping surface that is coupled to the second inner circumferential surface.
 7. The lacrosse training aid of claim 6, wherein the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface is formed from a material that is softer than the material used to form the first and second body portions.
 8. The lacrosse training aid of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a catch that is formed proximate the second body portion second end.
 9. A lacrosse training aid comprising: a. a first body portion having a first end and a second end; b. a second body portion having a first end and a second end; and c. a locking mechanism; wherein the first body portion second end is operatively coupled to the second body portion first end; the first body portion first end is releasably coupled to the second body portion second end by the locking mechanism; the first body portion first end and second body portion second end are movable between: a first position in which the locking mechanism secures the first body portion first end to the second body portion second end; and a second position in which the first body portion first end is moveable with respect to the second body portion second end, and wherein the first body portion and the second body portion are each arcuate in shape between the first end and the second end.
 10. The lacrosse training aid of claim 9, wherein: a. the first body portion first end is pivotally coupled to the locking mechanism; and b. the second body portion second end is releasably coupled to the locking mechanism.
 11. The lacrosse training aid of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion contains a weight.
 12. The lacrosse training aid of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion weighs about 1 pound.
 13. The lacrosse training aid of claim 9, wherein the first body portion second end is pivotally coupled to the second body portion first end.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The lacrosse training aid of claim 9, wherein when the first body portion first end and the second body portion second end are in the first position, a first surface of the first body portion and a second surface of the second body portion form a frictional fit with a lacrosse stick positioned intermediate the first body portion and the second body portion.
 16. The lacrosse training aid of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises: a. a buckle having a first end pivotally coupled to the first body portion first end; and b. a catch formed proximate to the second body portion second end, wherein the buckle second end is configured to releasably couple to the catch.
 17. A lacrosse training aid comprising: a. a first body portion comprising a first end and a second end; b. a second body portion comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first body portion second end is movably coupled to the second body first end; and c. a locking means for releasably coupling the first body portion first end to the second body portion second end, wherein the locking means is moveable between: an open position where the first body portion first end can be moved apart from the second body portion second end, and a closed position where the first body portion first end is coupled to the second body portion second end and spaced apart from the second body portion second end by a distance that is adjustable according to a diameter of a lacrosse stick to which the lacrosse training aid is to be attached.
 18. The lacrosse training aid of claim 17, wherein: a. the first body portion further comprises a first concave inner circumferential surface; and b. the second body portion further comprises a second concave inner circumferential surface.
 19. The lacrosse training aid of claim 18, wherein the locking means further comprises: a. a buckle that is operatively coupled to the first body portion first end; and b. a catch that is formed proximate the second body portion second end.
 20. The lacrosse training aid of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second body portions weighs between about 0.50 and 5 pounds.
 21. The lacrosse training aid of claim 9, further comprising a removable inner ring configured for positioning within an opening defined by the first body portion and the second body portion and sized according to a diameter of a lacrosse stick to which the lacrosse training aid is to be attached. 